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Uchiha Madara floated in mid-air, above the dust. He glanced around, noticing the Second Tsuchikage and Second Mizukage's bodies regenerating.
The Third Raikage, due to his speed, had evaded the attack and was now kneeling before Madara on one knee.
Simultaneously, the moment the repulsive force struck, Minato activated his Flying Thunder God Technique, carrying Hiruzen Sarutobi's corpse, and dodged the terrifying impact. No injury!
If Madara truly intended to harm them, it wouldn't have been such a simple Shinra Tensei.
This—was merely a declaration to the Shinobi World.
A declaration of the God of Shinobi's return!
Madara looked at Minato with interest. "Toad Sage Mode, Yang Nine-Tails chakra, and Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique—To combine these things—interesting."
"I will not kill you, Fourth Hokage of Konoha. Take the Third Hokage's corpse and return. Prepare for my war," Madara said arrogantly.
One vs All!
The Rinnegan's power was immense, yes, but it lacked space-time properties. Against Minato, who had mastered the Flying Thunder God to its limit, he had no truly effective countermeasures.
Minato couldn't harm him, but he also couldn't truly defeat Minato.
However...
The so-called Hokage—were fools who valued their village above their lives, above even "brotherly bonds."
As long as Konohagakure existed, Minato Namikaze, as Hokage, would eventually have to face Uchiha Madara. The Shinobi might run, but the village—couldn't.
As long as he didn't abandon his resolve as Kage, he would eventually die at Uchiha Madara's hand.
Hearing this, Minato looked deeply at Madara, knowing that in his current state, he was no match for this Shinobi who rivaled Hashirama Senju.
Setting aside his own emotions, the Yang Nine-Tails within him was frantically signaling retreat.
Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju—were the two Shinobi the Nine-Tails least wanted to face.
Especially Madara's eyes, having evolved from Mangekyō to Rinnegan...
Its bond with Minato wasn't deep enough to risk a life-or-death battle.
No, not a bond, but coercion! The original coercion was to avoid being sent out. But if Minato foolishly charged in alone—the Nine-Tails' reaction was uncertain.
Lifting Hiruzen Sarutobi's corpse, Nagato activated the Flying Thunder God Technique again, his figure instantly vanishing.
Now, he had to return to Gojo Kaigetsu's side as quickly as possible, to discuss their next move.
Uchiha Madara, possessing such eyes, posed a threat to Konoha even greater than the Allied Shinobi Forces!
The dust settled.
Madara slowly turned his head, observing the Edo Tensei Tsuchikage, now mostly regenerated, slowly walking towards him.
"I am Kabuto. I am Nagato and Zetsu's collaborator."
"Speaking to me through an Edo Tensei body—quite insidious..."
Though the Edo Tensei Kage, under Kabuto's control, had just intended to attack him, Madara wasn't angered.
Who would feel anger towards someone weaker than themselves?
"Since you are Zetsu and Nagato's collaborator, tell me the current situation in the Shinobi World."
Not a request, but an absolute command!
The strong should dominate the weak. If Kabuto dared to refuse—in the next second, his connection with the Edo Tensei body would be severed.
Kabuto, naturally, was perceptive.
He also keenly observed Madara's subconscious speech patterns.
'He just—mentioned Zetsu first?'
'Does that mean, in Uchiha Madara's perception, Zetsu is more important than the Leader?'
Realizing this, Kabuto, speaking through the Second Tsuchikage, said slowly:
"From what point in time should I begin?"
"This year."
"Konoha is unstoppable, having developed to a point where no single hidden village can contend with it. Led by the Fifth Kazekage, an alliance of Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Kirigakure—dozens of hidden villages, large and small, have formed a Shinobi alliance to attack Konoha."
"Right now, on the border of Kusagakure, near Amegakure, both sides have amassed over sixty thousand Shinobi..."
Hearing the number sixty thousand, a flicker of interest finally appeared on Madara's face.
This—was a grand stage worthy of his appearance.
"The Tailed Beast collection—how fares it?"
'He even knows about that? He was just resurrected—Or perhaps, everything was planned by Uchiha Madara before his death?'
If that were the case, it was too...
An inexplicable fear arose in Kabuto. He reported honestly:
"Currently, we have collected the One-Tail, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, Six-Tails, part of the Nine-Tails chakra, and part of the Eight-Tails chakra."
Madara frowned. "Why so slow?"
Slow! Too slow!
Those two, Obito and Black Zetsu, had they even been working properly?
"Obito?"
"Obito?"
"The one who calls himself me."
"You mean 'Tobi'?" Kabuto pondered for a moment. "Before I joined the organization, that individual was no longer a member. However, I heard from Zetsu that Tobi disappeared, presumed dead, while on an assassination mission in Konoha. I joined the organization afterwards."
"As for the Tailed Beasts—the Two-Tails, Three-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Nine-Tails are hidden within Konoha's sphere of influence. We couldn't easily enter and capture them. We originally planned to take advantage of the hidden villages being preoccupied with this war to launch a surprise attack on Konoha and capture them, but so many things happened..."
"Tch—one after another." Madara's brow furrowed.
The process was all wrong, but the outcome—was correct.
The carefully chosen pawns were all dead, the Tailed Beast collection delayed. But fortunately, he, Uchiha Madara, had been resurrected! As long as he was resurrected, everything would be fine!
"Meaning—as long as I attack Konoha, I can obtain all the Tailed Beasts." Uchiha Madara said, then suddenly, a grin spread across his face.
He was annoyed because capturing scattered Tailed Beasts and their jinchuriki required a great deal of time to gather intelligence and pinpoint their exact locations.
But now, all the jinchuriki were gathered in Konoha...
Capturing them would be easy.
"Then, first liberate Black Zetsu, then capture all the jinchuriki hidden in Konoha."
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